The Basic Fantasy RPG roxxorz!

[jdrakeh]

Okay, so "roxxorz" is a bit if a joke (hang around RPG fan sites long enough and you'll get it). That said, I received my hardcover copy of the game in question this afternoon and it is fabulous. I'm a crazy huge fan of the Holmes BD&D box set and have long lamented the fact that it didn't have an OGL equivalent -- and now it does

To be clear, the Mentzer set is cited as the primary inspiration for the game, but I've never been one to mince the different editions of Basic D&D (most of which weren't conceptually different, merely presented in different ways). Anyhow, if you're a fan of BD&D of any flavor, the Basic Fantasy RPG is for you.

While I plan to review the game in full as time permits, I realize that could be some weeks down the road. So here are some highlights to sate your curisoity. . .

Highlights

• 1-20 level progression. No more expanding those pesky BD&D advancement charts on your own.
  
  
• Attribute rolls in lieu of skills, with target DCs based on character level. Excellent!
  
  
• Perentile-based skills for thieves. Okay, so that's at direct odds with the above concept, but it screams old school (both because old school D&D did it and because it's at odds with the above concept).
  
  
• Compatability with D&D 3x supplements. I just dropped about $600 on D&D 3x stuff, so knowing that I can use things like the Spell Compendium with the BFRPG makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.
  
  
• 99% OGC. Only names, etc are Product Identity. But. . .
  
  
• Includes a royalty free license that lets you use PI in your own works, so long as you adhere to three simple rules (you'll have to get your own copy to find out what those rules are).

I think that we may have OSRIC's counterpart for BD&D. It's simple, it's open, and it's free (well, provided that you don't get a little spend-happy and order multiple copies of the game from Lulu). This is, simply, great stuff. Go snag a copy, read it, play it, and get your own BFRPG material out there, folks (publishers, fans, everybody).

Yes, I'm excited

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Aren't there like 10 different competing rulesets for this space now? I just saw one on Lulu the other day that I'd never heard of.

What makes this a better (or worse) choice than C&C or OSRIC or BRPWRPEFSDFSwhateveritis or True20?

 

[jdrakeh]

Aren't there like 10 different competing rulesets for this space now? I just saw one on Lulu the other day that I'd never heard of.

What makes this a better (or worse) choice than C&C or OSRIC or BRPWRPEFSDFSwhateveritis or True20?

Well, the Basic Fantasy RPG is solely aimed at recreating Basic D&D via OGL rules. OSRIC is an AD&D 1e open source document. C&C is something of an AD&D 1e/2e recreation, but only tiny portions of it are actually open content (i.e., it's not much use to people who want to develop their own products based on it). True 20, of course, has nothing in common with older editions of D&D, but is merely a trimmed down version of the current edition. So, mechanically and conceptually, all of these games offer something different. So far as I know, the BFRPG is the only Basic D&D recreation via the OGL currently available. That said. . .

BFRPG isn't purely Basic D&D - alignment is presented as a purely optional mechanic, via a supplement, for instance. A lof of people probably won't like that. Since I never saw too many Basic D&D groups use alignment, I understand where the author was coming from and applaud his decision. Also, the diminishing attribute check DCs based on level is a neat idea that is much more elegant than the largely static or entirely handwaved DCs utilized by all of the other aforementioned games. BFRPG also has an official setting (presented as a series of adventures) that you can download for free from the website. And, of course, you can download the entire ruleset for free, as well (of the aforementioned competitors, only OSRIC lets you do this, as well). Finally, it's easily compatible with supplements for the current edition of D&D, where OSRIC isn't (at all) and True 20 is, but only after a generous application of elbow grease. I think only C&C has is matched in this regard.

There are a lot of things to like about the BFRPG, but as I said in my first post, my time is somewhat limited at the moment (I have a day job, so full-blown reviews have to wait until the day job duties and some volunteer work gat taken care of). The primary reasons to check it out are:

1.It's 100% free!
2.It's 99% OGC and 1% additional open content via a royalty free license.
3.It's the only Basic D&D recreation via the OGL that is currently available.
4.It has an incredible level of product support via the website.
5.You can use your D&D 3x supplements with it on the fly.

Here is a link to the BFRPG main site. Go download the rules for free (no need to buy the hardcover or perfect-bound books from Lulu, as I did). Check out the downloads section for the aforementioned free rules, adventure modules, a collection of custom character sheets, optional rules (such as those for alignment), etc. For a free game, the level of support is admirable. And, of course, you have the web-based software support (see the "Tools" section of the website). And the dedicated discussion threads art Dragonsfoot (which I'll never participate in, but I must say that they make for good reading).

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

So far as I know, the BFRPG is the only Basic D&D recreation via the OGL currentl available.

You're right about "currently available," but there's another one in the works:
http://goblinoidgames.com/labyrinthlord.htm

BFRPG isn't purely Basic D&D...

I think Labyrinth Lord is trying to be closer to an "OGL Basic D&D." For example, it will have old-style AC, rather than BFRPG's modern-style AC. Et cetera.

In any case, I agree that BFRPG is super-cool. I've run it a few times.

 

[jdrakeh]

I think Labyrinth Lord is trying to be closer to an "OGL Basic D&D." For example, it will have old-style AC, rather than BFRPG's modern-style AC. Et cetera.

Yeah, admirable, but I probably won't pick it up for that reason. Not only do I already own the real Basic D&D, but its lack of compatability with D&D 3x products makes 80% of my current gaming collection useless. The compatability of BFRPG with my fat stack of D&D 3x supplements was defintitely a welcome feature, as it allows me to get that old school feel, while still getting much use out of my new school spell/setting/monster supplements. That said, I'd have no issues with referring my players (who do not own any Basic D&D books) to the LL site for materials. BFRPG simply looks like a better "bridge" system between the new and the old, allowing me to make use of both.

 

[smootrk]

This looks very cool. I cannot believe that I had overlooked this for so long. I have been in a very nostalgic mood as of late (basically starting with the news of the demise of my favorite mags), so this is a very welcome addition to my collection. I look forward to running Palace of the Silver Princess with these rules.

If your nostalgia continues, you might want to go to www.StarFrontiersman.com for re-mastered rules from the Star Frontiers game... very cool pdfs there.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I have two major objections to BFRPG.

One is something they didn't change from Basic: %-based thief skills. It's just... UGH. So old school for old school's sake. Basic D&D with a few tweaks is a good enough system to roll with modern ones, it doesn't need this nostalgic but poor exception-based rules artifact.

The other is something they *did* change: Only 20 levels? Man, what? Basic was the only version of D&D that spread the power out over at least a few more levels; not 99, but 32 was at least more workable than 20.

And, of course, the exceptions-based D&D magic system, but I don't mind that they didn't change that and wouldn't expect it of them.

 

[Rykion]

Thanks for the heads-up on these rules. They look pretty good, and seem to be the kind of simple style I've been looking for with a little old school flavor.

 

[jdrakeh]

One is something they didn't change from Basic: %-based thief skills. It's just... UGH.

Well, in fairness, BFRPG was designed specifically to be an old school game, as opposed to a simple alternative to D&D 3x -- in that light, the % thief skills make perfect sense.

The other is something they *did* change: Only 20 levels? Man, what? Basic was the only version of D&D that spread the power out over at least a few more levels; not 99, but 32 was at least more workable than 20.

Again, in fairness, Basic D&D didn't have more than three levels until you started buying multiple boxed sets. BFRPG still has 17 more levels than the original Holmes-era D&D or the "red box" Basic D&D sets

And, of course, the exceptions-based D&D magic system, but I don't mind that they didn't change that and wouldn't expect it of them.

Of course, that's pretty much required for both an "old school" game and, more specifically, one based on Basic D&D.

 

[Philotomy Jurament]

One is something they didn't change from Basic: %-based thief skills. It's just... UGH. So old school for old school's sake. Basic D&D with a few tweaks is a good enough system to roll with modern ones, it doesn't need this nostalgic but poor exception-based rules artifact.

Actually, I don't mind %-based skills. They're intuitive and easy to adjudicate, IMO. That is, I think it's easy for a GM to determine modifiers, etc. with percentages. It's not that much harder with 20 graduations, instead of 100, but I still find it more natural to think in terms like "base 75% chance," instead of DCs. What do you dislike about it, other than the fact that it's "old?"

Also, what do you mean by "exception-based?" If you mean "an exception to a universal mechanic," then I shrug and refer you to RFisher's comments on his pages: Unified Mechanic, Different Mechancis, and Classic D&D: I used to think...